Local TV Comes to St. Clair

Channel 6 community television has been serving area residents for over 13 years.

In The Beginning...
In 1994, Paul Dingeman, then cable commissioner for the city of St. Clair, saw to it that Harron Communications (now Comcast) followed through with their promise of a local origination station--as part of the franchise agreement with the city. Dingeman, along with a core group of volunteers, took delivery of some video production equipment later that year. That equipment was limited in it's abilities; one camera, one microphone, and one S-VHS play back deck, but it was a start!

The City of St. Clair provided an office (on first floor ) and two spare offices (on the second floor) of the Community Center on Fourth Street for use as an office and studios for the new venture. The Office/ Control Room contained the Panasonic MX-50 video switching equipment, the community bulletin board equipment, and the playback equipment to send the programs to Harron Cable (later Comcast ). The studio's backdrop frames were built by using 2" x 2" pieces of wood forming them into frames and covering them with donated (local resident) automobile seat cover fabric. Dark blue, grey, and light brown were the only backdrops that the channel had for the first few years. Lighting was original also; the household flood lights used for outdoor displays at Christmas filled with spotlights connected to power strips was the first hi-tech lighting grid. But it did the job!

The Main Studio was a second floor room, in a separate building from the Control Room. This made communication, and setup fun. The Studio itself was 13' x 17' a very unusual layout for TV, but again the volunteers made it work. The second room on the second floor served as a "Sports Set ." The cameras were on wheels, so the crew would wheel the cameras, lights and microphones from the Main Studio next door through the doors in the hallway and produce, pretty good local community TV for the day.

The community bulletin board was on the air for about two months before the first program was produced. Then, in October of 1994, Paul and his volunteers recorded their first program on the construction of the "Imagination Station" playground in St. Clair. This program is currently available in our video on demand section!

Tale of Two Cities
About two years after the City of St. Clair began airing programming on Channel 6, the City of Marine City followed suit. The suggestion was made that additional coverage of events from the East China School District be added, since the district serves both communities. A few years ago, a proposal was made to the City Councils of Marine City and St. Clair to combine the programming efforts and franchise incomes for the cable TV providers to operate the two channels. Both Marine City and St. Clair Channel 6 stations now originate from the St. Clair studio. The East China School District which receives no franchise income from the cable TV providers, agreed to participate financially with the two cities and the operating budget of Channel 6 was established. Since the origination of the first agreements, the townships of East China and St. Clair have also become financial partners with the other three members.

Online Community
In 2000, the decision was made to begin a website for Channel 6. Bruce Holladay put up the first cable6.org website in 2000. He continued to maintain the site until 2004. In 2004, Tom Kephart re-designed the site and maintained it through November 2005. Today, Bruce has taken on the project again. In addition to creating a new user-friendly layout, he has been working hard on the 'video-on-demand' section of the site. Improvements continue each day.

Merger Means More Variety
In 2004, St. Clair and Marine City community television merged operation facilities. When the East China School District built the new St. Clair Middle School on Yankee Road in St. Clair Township, space became available in the East China Education Center at 301 N. Sixth Street in the city. Channel 6 moved into the old wood shop area of the building, which has worked out well as studio, engineering, and offices for our continued growth.

Both channels originate from the St. Clair studio. The Main Studio is 35' x 35' and holds 1 permanent set (Focus program) and three temporary sets ( St. John River District Hospital - Healthy Perspectives set, Sports Zone, an Interview set, and a " Green Screen ". A permanent lighting grid was built by Bill and Joe Karas of Karas Plumbing with pipe Channel 6 purchased, and the sweat of the Karases. Business agent Steve Ellery, Painters Local 1474, Port Huron had the apprentices from the area come in and paint the studio black, Channel 6 bought the paint and they provided the labor. The old classroom area has been turned into an office and "green room " area,. All of the furniture for this area came from the old St. Clair City Hall (411 Trumbull, St. Clair.) Desks, chairs and tables have filled the room. A small edit suite, an engineering bay, a video duplication area and a Studio Control Room make up the rest of the space provide to Channel 6 by the East China School District. Carpet for the new Studio was traded 1/2 cash 1/2 advertising with Al Mead of Mead Carpets. All in all, Channel 6 Community Television has been a real community effort.

Watching Channel 6 Online
As we continue to develop unique programming options for residents, Channel 6 has recently (December 2006) re-developed it's website and launched a fledgling 'video on demand' section. Under the guidance of Bruce Holladay, viewers' options will continue to grow!

We've Only Just Begun
As the development of your community television station continues, we will continue to keep you informed here at cable6.org. So, stay tuned for an exciting future!

Paul Dingeman
Station Manager
Executive Producer
Host of "Focus with Paul Dingeman"

Our Executive Producer, Paul Dingeman started his Broadcast Career in Charlotte, Michigan on WCER Radio. In the mid 70's he moved to WPHM Radio in Port Huron and finally with WCAR and WCXI radio in Detroit thru the 80's. Mr. Dingeman held various on-air, sales and management positions, during his 13 year career in radio. Since 1994 Mr. Dingeman has been the Executive Producer and on-air talent for Channel 6. He has been responsible for all programming, scheduling, and production during those years.

Paul is a board member of the Rotary Club of St. Clair and it's program Chairperson. He serves on the Board of the RESA Hospitality Academy, the Board of the Supporters of East China School District Fund and is an active member of the St. Clair County Community College Communications Media Advisory Committee. Mr. Dingeman also serves on the St. Clair County RESA Digital Media Advisory Committee.

Mr. Dingeman was a past member of the St. Mary's Church Parish Council, a board member of the St. Clair Hydrofest, and has served on various City and County committees and organizations over the years.

Paul has been involved with Cable Television since it's beginning in the Blue Water area. Paul served as a founding member and Chairman of the City of St. Clair Cable Commission since 1980. Mayor John Sawyer appointed Paul to the Commission, which heard proposals from number of potential cable television providers in the early 80's. The Commission recommended to the City Council that the proposal from Harron Communications Corporation be accepted for a 15 year term, which was made into the first cable TV Franchise for St. Clair. Harron Cable eventually began what is now Comcast and is now offering Cable TV, Internet, and phone services to the area.

Mr. Dingeman is married to Mary Ellen, they have lived in St. Clair since 1978 along with their daughter Mary Kathleen Dingeman.

Steven Tenniswood
Technical Coordinator
Director, "Focus" & Channel 6 Sports

Steven's Bio and Photo Coming Soon!

Bruce Holladay
Web Designer
Graphic Designer
Director of On-Air Consistency

Although Bruce's 'real job' is teaching "Interactive Media" in Lapeer county, he continues to work with Channel 6 community television.

"I started with Paul in 1994 as a volunteer, and I guess I just never stopped wanting to volunteer!"

Holladay, a Michigan State University graduate, started in the broadcasting field as a senior in high school in January 1995. His career has taken him from his start at Channel 6, to Flint, East Lansing and finally Detroit. He still works part-time at WDIV-TV (NBC) as a newscast and special programming director.

Bob Wheeler
Producer

Bob's Bio Coming Soon!

Volunteers

Volunteer Information Coming Soon!